When interviewed for the report, Robert Kleinhenz, the LAEDC’s chief economist told Smith: “International trade is a significant industry for our local economy because we are the gateway to the U.S…always rank[ing] among the top three industries for Southern California from one year to the next, and it competes with entertainment.” “LACD exports to China have grown by more than 52 percent since 2009, setting records at the Port of Los Angeles in 2010 and 2011 in both value and the number of containers, Smith reported. “Last year the value of [Los Angeles County] exports to China… totaled nearly $22 billion.”

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The reported outlined that: “Computers, machinery, appliances and parts topped the LACD’s 2013 export list to China with a value of $4.7 billion. That was followed by electrical equipment, TVs and electronic parts ($3.8 billion), plastics and items made of plastic ($2.8 billion) and motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts ($2.3 billion), among others. Top imports included computers, machinery, appliances and parts ($41.8 billion), electrical equipment, TVs and electronic parts ($40.6 billion) and furniture, bedding and lamps ($11.1 billion). China was the LACD’s top trading partner in 2013, followed by Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany and Vietnam.”